Engage or die said a traffic muse as I pondered my blogging success.
It started when I read Robert Iger, Disney’s CEO, state “Innovate or Die”. What?
As I tossed this statement around in my head I thought, you know – he’s right. Technology is way ahead of what we humans can digest and understand as fast. It’s like the “Turtle and the Hare” story. The rabbit is lightning fast like technology as the turtle waddles along finally catching up and wins.
But I don’t see a winner, beating technology, outsmarting it. I just see us humans trying to catch up. But there are things we can do, like feeding our brains with education. Learning what we can grasp, understand and use. Naturally, this depends on the individual and their interests. And now the catch-up challenge is compounded even more with AI (Artificial Intelligence).
Whew!
So what does this have to do with blogging?
Well, WordPress threw in Gutenberg – a new blogging editor based on creating drag and drop “blocks” of content to create and style your blog posts and pages. I guess I’m a dinosaur because I use the now (soon to be ancient because of technology) that’s been the platform for years – the Classic WordPress Blogging editor. It is the new trend of blogging using a block design. Okay – I’ll get to using it soon.
Hey, but what about what I’m using now! How do new bloggers the “Newbie” just tapping into blogging grasp all there is about just creating a blog post choose Gutenberg or stick with the Classic editor. That’s going to be a huge learning curve.
It’s trial and error and most likely some newbie bloggers or seasoned end up learning on their own without support. And perhaps even giving up because blogging and everything it entails can be daunting and overwhelming.
So the muse hit me.
What to do. How can I help bloggers? I’ve been online since 1998, Surely my blogging experience can help, right?
Bloggers, especially new bloggers need help. Millions of bloggers are at the bottom of the sea. Yet they all have passions to share. They all want people to visit their blogs and learn about their passions, learn what they have to say and share. Yet most are still at the bottom of the see.
Why.
There are numerous reasons:
- Using free blogging platforms
- Not understanding SEO (Search engine optimization), or how to use it
- Not creating content with the user/visitor in mind
- Not sharing their content often enough
- Not commenting on OTHER blogs
- Not reaching out to other bloggers or people in general
- Expecting visitors to just come to their blog
- Link dropping their blog posts in social media groups expecting to attract visitors
- Lack of confidence
With Google’s newest algorithm E. A. T. (Expertise, Authority, and Trustworthy) how bloggers present themselves with content that’s geared towards the visitor/user is what Google is looking for and rewarding. Google is looking for QUALITY content that USERS want, that answer their searches.
Ok, I get that. But where does a new blogger or even a seasoned one begin to make changes to roll into Google’s new standards.
1.Mindset is the first shift to explore
The above image shows two ways of behaving on the internet with a blog. That of an “Introvert” on the left. And an “Extrovert” on the right.
The introvert is excited, enthusiastic about their passion and writes about it from an internal point of view. The blogger knows and understands what they’re writing about.
They even know that they want to build a mailing list and create an offer to attract subscribers. But the invitation says something like this: “Sign-up for my Newsletter”, or “Don’t miss out on updates” or “Free PDF Download” (but they don’t say what the PDF is about).
It’s a “closed” blog. The blogger assumes visitors will understand their content and be attracted to their ADs and sidebar offers. No outreach, no comments, no traffic. MANY blogs on the internet are presenting like this.
The Extrovert has a different approach. They share their passion differently. Content is created for the user. What that looks like is usable content: Lists, teachings, how-to, instructions a visitor could follow. PDFs with explanation of content, quizzes, videos, content is shared more often, etc.
They write more in-depth content and credit where they do their research (Trustworthy). The blog is more outgoing and provides valuable “Authority” content attracting visitors to them because the blogger is solution oriented for visitors.
How to Change Blog Presentation
- Blogging is not about you anymore, it’s all about the user. Companies are scrambling to create more user friendly, valuable content which is why knowing WHO you want to attract is more important now.
- Practice being an extrovert. How? Doing practice videos. There are so many ways to make videos and you don’t even have to be in them.
- Question what you write about. Ask “how does it help my visitors?”, “Is this useful?”, “Does it provide a solution?”
- Research your audience. If your passion is health, you don’t want to focus on cars – UNLESS it’s relevant to health in some way.
- Go deep with your articles, meaning be more detailed, explain more, provide examples, teach!
- Review how your blog looks visually. This is really important. If it’s too confusing you’ll lose a visitor
2. Starting out small to be more outgoing
The common complaint about blogging is – ready? You know it. It’s traffic! Yet traffic is everywhere.
Traffic is generated by the blogger!
Of course it is and yet it remains the #1 complaint. As is traffic mysteriously appears towards the blog. Nope. So when the muse hit me I had an idea. To help bloggers generate traffic AND increase engagement on their websites.
How.
My first concept is reinforcing the fact that all bloggers ARE traffic generators! Simply because they created a blog and it’s up to the blogger how much effort goes into it which relates to how much interest and desire to share with people worldwide.
So I created a program – The Daily Blog Share Inner Circle.
The Daily Blog Share is a general Facebook Group. Bloggers drop their blog post links in the group and disappear. No engagement. There are numerous groups on Facebook and on other social platforms that have thousands of bloggers all doing the same thing. What’s the point?
So the “Inner Circle” is just for those bloggers who are more serious about growing their blogs and generating traffic to it.
The Benefits of the Inner Circle
- It restores interest in the blogger to write posts (1 post per week keeps a blog alive)
- Comments on blog posts are more intelligent, not spam-my
- Progress is measured by a point system which demonstrates the bloggers motivation and interest
- Bloggers become more outgoing
- Members become more confident in their blogging skills and engagement
- Learning more in-depth topics on blogging
- Blogging support and assistance
Sometimes you just have to reach-out and make a difference. I believe this can work, BUT it relies on the members and how much participation there is.
We’re only in week 2, but as one member says:
“After just one week in the program I’m already feeling more positive about my blog and have started getting sensible comments instead of just spam. It’s good to make contact with other like-minded bloggers in the program.” – Joy Healey
Start small and grow. .. it’s limitless.
I love blogging. So many things you can do with it, But one needs to be comfortable with morphing into an extrovert. And this happens, through trial and error, over time.
Hey Lesly,
Here after a long time and like always loved your post. I do missed reading your posts as I was busy with one of my new projects, but will be regular from now on.
Keep up the good work.
~ Donna
Hi Donna!
Great to see you again. I know you’ve been away for a bit. Hope all is alright 🙂 Come join our Inner circle to build a comment following. Would love to have you. Look forward to catching up. Much love to you…
Hi, Lesly, I am really liking the look and feel of your blog these, days.
You are building a very good resource here.
Regards Dexter
Hi Dexter,
Thank you for the visit and compliment. I hope what I’m sharing is helpful to others . It’s growing 🙂
Hi Lesly,
I liked your article outlining your new venture. Happy to be a member! Encouraging the blogging community to join.
I don’t think I feel ” like a dinosaur ” using the classic editor. I am not a fan of the Guttenberg drag and drop.
I liked the “Introvert and Extrovert” explanation relating to blogging. Introvert – Writing from an internal view. Knowing what they are writing about.
I do get the sign up for my Newsletter mistake- Working on a lead magnate to replace that! The Extroverts approach lists, teaching, PDFs and explanation of content, quizzes I am working on. “The “Inner Circle” is just for those bloggers who are more serious about growing their blogs and generating traffic to it.” Great!
Phil, I really agree. My WP site has a great spam filter, although I have to say I don’t know how it works. The problem I’ve encountered recently is getting spam through the contact form.
Any suggestions as to how to stop that (apart from no form)! Thanks guys.
Hi Rosemary,
I know it’s really irritating/ I just delete the comments as they come. I also got rid of my Contact page.
Excellent initiative, Lesly, and very well presented. I wish you every success with it.
Hi Will,
Thank you for reading about the Daily Blog Share Inner Circle, I’m excited about it! Join us?
Hi Lesly,
Glad to be here again!
I like this post as you are really encouraging the blogging community with a lot of tech and solutions in the ever-growing tech industry in relation to blogging.
The Guttenberg edition indeed looks like a good one, but I am still afraid to enter in, once I tried and found a lot of error and felt that its not a user-friendly one and I switched back to the classic one. I am still in confusion, Lesly, is it compulsory to shift to Gutenberg edition by all WP users?
Or shall we continue to go with the classic one?
Would like to know what difference it makes?
I hope you will explain these in another post or in this response box here.
I really like the “Introvert” and “Extrovert” explanation in relation to blogging, a very interesting one with an interesting illustration, hey, who did that illustration? You?
Thanks for your time
Thanks for adding my web link to the new venture. Let’s move on and bring in some vital or solid results. 🙂
Keep sharing
Best Regards
~ Phil
Hi Philip,
Sorry for the delay in replying to you. I was changing my theme when you posted :-). It seems that “Drag and Drop” block theme designs and editors are trending. But honestly I don’t see WorpPress’s Classic Editor going anywhere. MILLIONS use it and it’s a choice. There’s a learning curve and I have another website where I’m testing it out. So I say – stick with what you have and what works for you. Yes, I did that drawing to explain my concept of “Introvert and Extrovert” blogging .. glad you liked it 🙂 I appreciate your visit.. thank you
All of this makes my head spin. Having said this and being ADD it takes some time to absorb. The concept is great. I just have to get some confidence built up. I am a blog about Home Keeping and Self Care. Many in the Inner Circle write about subjects that are hard for me to understand making it difficult to comment. (I am giving you my honest opinion and hope there may be some others that feel the same way.)
I have added Self Care to my website and am excited about it because through my journey I have found they go hand in hand. I want to introduce concepts that most don’t think of.
Now this thing about Guetenberg (sp) is new to me. I am still struggling to find a theme I can get comfortable with that goes with my subject.
Having said all of this I do intend to join the Inner Circle but not until I get a better understanding so I can write content on a weekly basis.
Hi Marilyn,
I know this is a lot to digest. Love all your ideas. Take one day at a time. When you’re ready I’ll go over everything .. I appreciate you <3
Sounds good. Let’s touch base next week. I work over the weekend and will have to stay in town because of the upcoming snowstorm.
Some great tips if you’re a beginning blogger. On my list is to work up the nerve to create a video. Like all these techy things, easy when you know how and daunting in advance.
Hi Rosemary,
You can do it! There are so many ways to make videos. You don’t even have to be in them. So .. try. I understand how you feel. I was the same way. Once you start you get comfortable with it … I appreciate your comment and visit, thanks!
Hi Lesly,
Thanks for linking to my blog and publishing my testimonial. It’s so true – I was getting very depressed about the quantity of spam / worthless comments on my blog as opposed to genuine ones. In fact I was on the point of following the example of many influential bloggers, and – reluctantly – turning off comments completely.
I had completely lost interest in so many blog posting groups on Facebook, because it really was just pointless.
However, I am looking forward to more interaction with the group Lesly has set up. There are already some very experienced bloggers within, offering help and advice to.
Joy Healey – Blogging After Dark
Hi Joy,
Thank you! For all your support. Interaction is so important and necessary to be online. I’m hoping good things come from this group… Thank you for being a part of it. Appreciate your visit and comment 🙂 I see a difference too …
Hi Lesly,
What a joy to be part of this new venture, I appreciate your efforts to pull in more members to the community with your natural style of presentation thru video as well as blog texts. Great going Lesly, I am also back to pavilion after a bit backsliding. 🙂
I fully agree with Joy, sometimes it really gets irritated by the flow of spam comments in our dashboards. but Joy, my sincere suggestion is that, it is not advisable to close the comment box completely. instead, use some good comment plugin like CommentLuv, etc.
In fact, comments are the backbone of blogging!! I am sure Lesly will join me here! 🙂
Keep going, and keep trying and try to cop up with the new technologies! LOL 🙂
Good day.
~ Phil
Hi Phil,
Thank you for the compliment … backsliding is okay! Sometimes we need a break and it’s good to take one. I don’t advise closing the comment box either. It’s saying “NO” I don’t want to hear from you. I just delete the spam. The plugins do what they can, but some still slips by .. just delete. Avoid letting it build up …